The Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) is working to address one of the last major bottlenecks on Highway 29: the congested interchange at State Routes 29/12 and Airport Boulevard, also known as Jameson Canyon.
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, the NVTA Board of Directors unanimously approved a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates to analyze design alternatives and prepare updated environmental documents for the intersections at State Routes 29/12 and Airport Boulevard and State Route 12 and Kelly Road.
“Highway 29 is the spine of Napa Valley, and every improvement we make keeps traffic moving and cuts down on emissions,” said NVTA Executive Director Danielle Schmitz. “This project at Highway 29 and Airport Boulevard is the next critical step in making sure our roads work better for everyone—commuters, visitors, and residents alike.”
The upcoming Airport Interchange analysis will examine up to three interchange alternatives—including both conventional and innovative designs such as a grade-separated “dogbone” roundabout. Each option will be evaluated for traffic relief, multimodal access, safety, cost-effectiveness, and its ability to accommodate Napa Valley’s projected growth. NVTA’s goal is to refine the project footprint and secure environmental clearance through Caltrans, clearing the way for the design and construction stages. NVTA anticipates completing environmental documents by 2027.
Just one year ago, NVTA and Caltrans completed the new roundabouts at the Soscol Junction Interchange, improving traffic flow between State Route 29, State Route 221, and Soscol Ferry Road. That project is expected to save drivers an estimated 1.35 million hours of vehicle delay every year, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 94,000 tons over the next two decades. NVTA has already seen a significant improvement in the northbound morning commute at Soscol Junction with the removal of the traffic signal, but the benefits of Soscol Junction will not be fully realized without addressing the bottleneck at the State Route 29/12 and Airport Boulevard.
NVTA has been exploring solutions to both the SR 29/12 and Airport Boulevard intersection and the State Route 12/121 Interchange in Carneros.
For more information on the Airport Boulevard interchange project visit the project webpage.
A fifth generation Napan, rural resident, and scientist, Amber brings a unique skillset to local governance. Since the 2010s, she has been a strong advocate for sustainable natural resource management in Napa County, serving on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan Advisory Committee and as Board Secretary for Protect Rural Napa, a local nonprofit. Amber’s professional background includes work in natural resources management and sustainable transportation. Amber earned her doctorate in Geography from UC Davis in 2014, specializing in land use change, mapping, and plant ecology. Her postdoctoral research at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences focused on floodplain management and California state agency responses to the 2012–2016 drought. When she’s not making maps or reading, Amber enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with her family.
Anna was elected to the St. Helena City Council in 2018 and 2022. Anna received a Bachelor’s of Art from the University of California, Santa Barbara, majoring in Communications and Spanish and a Master’s of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine Business School. Anna has experience working for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations in leadership roles and provided consulting services to organizations that want to create positive work environments with a focus on leadership and engagement.